England’s pace spearhead has got plenty of stick from Australian supporters over the years for his relative ineffectiveness Down Under.

The 500-wicket man is on his fourth Ashes tour of Australia but he had never taken a five-wicket haul in 14 Tests prior to Adelaide.

The 35-year-old had removed Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja in a terrific display of swing bowling under the lights on Monday. He was equally effective in the warm sunshine of Tuesday morning as he sent both Peter Handscomb and Nathan Lyon packing. He returned to dismiss Mitchell Starc to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Australia.

Anderson’s 5-43 was the catalyst for England’s remarkable fight-back after they had seemed downed and out in the first three days.

It was Anderson’s first five-wicket haul in 30 innings in Australia.

DRS LEAVES PLAYERS AND PUNDITS BAFFLED

The Decision Review System (DRS) was at the centre of attention on day four at Adelaide as both players and pundits were left baffled by some of the calls.

The first controversial moment arrived when Alastair Cook was adjudged not out by the umpire after being struck on the pads by a full Nathan Lyon delivery. The ball seemed to be sliding down the leg-side but Steve Smith opted for a review. However, Hawkeye showed that the ball turned just enough after bouncing to be on course to hit the stumps and the decision was overturned.

Root then had a lucky reprieve when batting after he left a Lyon delivery alone only for it to turn in sharply and wrap him on the pads in front of the stumps. The umpire’s finger was raised quickly but DRS showed that the ball would bounce over the stumps.

Smith then had two reviews wasted in the space of three balls to compound his DRS misery. He believed the England captain had inside-edge a Pat Cummins delivery to Tim Paine but DRS showed no contact with the bat.

The Australian skipper then thought he had his man after Josh Hazlewood trapped Dawid Malan on the pads after the ball stayed low. Hawkeye however showed that the ball would bounce over the stumps to leave the Aussies stunned and bewildered on the field.

Smith and Hazlewoo cannot believe it as Malan is reprieved by the DRS.

JOE ROOT SHOWS HIS CLASS TO LEAVE ENGLAND DREAMING OF VICTORY

England’s leader had been much chastised for his decision to bowl first on the Adelaide track after he had won the toss. It all seemed to be going wrong for England as Australia put on a big first-innings total before bowling England out to take a 215-run lead.

The 26-year-old had failed to convert his starts in the opening Test at Brisbane and had failed in the first innings at Adelaide. It is fair to say the pressure on Root’s shoulders was huge as England stared down the barrel at another defeat.

On Tuesday, he showed why he considered in the same breath as Steve Smith as he brought up his 34th Test fifty. He walked into bat after openers Cook and Mark Stoneman felt in quick succession to leave England rocking at 54-2. He steadied the ship in the company of James Vince first and Dawid Malan later. Going into the final day, England’s hopes will rest on Root going big and a 14th Test ton from him might just be what England need on the final day to cap off a dream victory.

If the England skipper had come in for some criticisms following his decision to bowl first, his opposite counterpart will be left wondering if he made the right call in not enforcing the follow-on.

England had seemed well and truly out of the game after conceding a huge 215-run lead in the first innings but Smith chose to bat again in the hopes of getting some quick runs on the board on Monday.

Smith would have thought Australia would have batted long enough to declare before lights came on at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday but his gambit has allowed the tourists to creep in through the back door.

His batsmen were rattled by England’s pacers to be bowled out for just 138 runs and Root’s innings has now put them well within reach of a famous victory come Wednesday.

If Australia go on to lose from here, Smith’s decision could be giving him sleepless nights for some time to come.

Sri Lanka were placed at 31-1 with the light fading at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. They would have hoped umpire Nigel Llong would bring an end to play when he got out the light-meter.

The Englishman allowed Jadeja to bowl one another over and it was these six balls which spelt trouble for the islanders.

With the very first delivery Jadeja struck as he had Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha. The opener was looking to defend but the ball held its line before taking a faint outside edge.

Nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal blocked out two deliveries in succession but disaster struck in the fourth ball as Jadeja turned around to appeal vociferously for the leg-before decision.

Little did he know that the ball had crept onto the stumps to bowl Lakmal.

Lakmal was bowled off the fourth delivery of the over.

VIRAT KOHLI’S FABULOUS SERIES WITH THE BAT

After his second consecutive double-ton in the first innings, Kohli continued the good form on the fourth day with a well made fifty.

After starting with a duck in the first innings in the opening Test at Kolkata, Kohli has since gone to score 104, 213, 243 and 50 runs in his subsequent stays at the crease.

He overtook Brian Lara for the most double-tons as a Test captain with his sixth in the first innings. His 610 runs in the series make him the runaway leader in runs scored and it will be no surprise to see Kohli walk away with the man of the series award come Wednesday.

Kohli has scored 610 runs in five innings during the series.

THE BAD

AJINKYA RAHANE FAILS YET AGAIN

The Indian deputy skipper breached the 10-run mark for the first time in the series after a dreadful batch of form. While he was promoted to number three on Tuesday, it wasn’t enough as the 29-year-old perished on exactly 10 while trying to hit Dilruwan Perera over the top.

Rahane’s scores in the series read a sorry 4,0,2,1 and 10. A combined total of 17 runs in five innings represent a miserable return for the right-hander before going into a tough away tour of South Africa.

Other Indian batsmen have all scored big at one point or the other in the series but Rahane has failed to rediscover his touch as he has struggled with timing.

It has been a dreadful series for the Indian vice-captain.

DELHI’S SMOG STRIKES YET AGAIN

Day two of the Test had descended into a farce after Sri Lanka’s players had to resort to wearing face-masks amidst the high pollution levels in New Delhi.

Pacer Lakmal had to leave the field while developing a cough during his run-up as play was stopped several times over the issue.

Things got no better on Tuesday when India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami was seen coughing on the field while going back to his run-up while bowling.

The fast bowler has removed Sadeera Samarawickrama with a display of ferocious and aggressive pace bowling but it seems his efforts took a toll on him.